It's news nobody wants to hear: an even more contagious version of the COVID-19 Omicron variant is spreading, a subvariant called BA.5. In only the past couple of weeks it has become the dominant strain of COVID circulating in the United States, and has driven the rate of infections up significantly in Massachusetts.
Worldwide, the number of new coronavirus cases rose for the fifth week in a row, according to the World Health Organization, while the number of deaths remained stable. Here in Massachusetts, the amount of COVID RNA detected in wastewater jumped about 29 percent over the past two weeks, indicating that there are likely more cases to come. Even more concerning is that this variant is more apt at reinfecting people who have already had the virus.
So, if you're someone who's been leaving your mask behind while in crowded indoor places, like on public transport or in restaurants, Sabrina Assoumou, BU School of Medicine Louis W. Sullivan, MD, Professor of Medicine, suggests masking back up. Assoumou served on Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's COVID-19 Advisory Committee, which helped provide guidance for the city and advised with Boston Medical Center's patient protocols.
"It's very important to let people know that there's something different going on [with BA.5] and that we should be more vigilant with wearing masks," says Assoumou, who is also an infectious diseases physician at Boston Medical Center, BU's primary teaching hospital.
The Brink spoke with Assoumou about BA.5, what makes it more transmissible, how to navigate this phase of the pandemic, and what to expect in the fall.
This interview was edited for clarity and brevity.
